Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-07-26
AN UNDERGROUND RAILWAY.
Tho Bsg Enterprise Undertaken by Chi
rago Capitalists.

rag0 Capitalists.
SPRINGFIELD, H., July Articles Of
incorporation were fled in the office OF
the secretary of state of the Metropolitan
Railroad company. The capital stock is
put at $50, 0G0, 900. The principal office
is to be located at Chicago and the incor-
porators are Eli II. Doud, John Miller,
John Gray, Henry w. Leman. John S.
Miller, and Benjamin f, Chase, all of
Chicago. Henry w. Leman was seen at
the Union club by a Chicago Tribune re-
porter, and stated thas the plans for the
new company had been prepared with
due care and with the fullest considera-
ton of all the advantages and disadyan-
tages of the proposed scheme. SIT has
| been no hasty affair said Mr.. Leman,
b III has been considered very. fully by
the parties interested. We have taken
great pains to investigate every phase of
the scheme, and lave now in our possess
sion drawings and diagrams of all the
tunneling that has been lone in Chicago.
SO we know just what we can do without
interfering with any one else. Moreover
we have considered all the objections
that may be offered by property-owners
along the proposed routes, and think we
can meet them all in q way that will be
eminently satisfactory to every one.
We have considered the question of
the support of the curbs, and also the
question Of undermining foundations,
and have arranged matters so that there
] will be not The slightest damage done to
either. You know there issl certain an
gle OF excavation at which the ground
itself will support any foundation that
may be laid, and we AVE q system of
masonry for supporting the curbs. How
the lines will be operated cant say just
yet, 1t may be by steam, compressed
air, or electricity. The tunnel will be
thlrty-flve feet under ground and will
reach to all quarters of the city. They
will be OF brick and masonry, will be
!, lighted by electricity. and will be ven
tilated by powerful fans. Through the
besiness portion of the city they will be
undo the street, of course, but after we
get farther out we expect to purchase the
property and run them behind the build
ings. By running the buildings back
half way over the excavation we won't
lose much property, and will have free
access of air.
The stations won't take up much room
elther-they won't take up as much
room as the elevated road stations do in
New York, being according to the plans
only 9x5, and l forgot to say that where
u excavations are open it is our inten,
ton to carry the cross streets over as
streets-that is, where one crosses a tun-
mel there will be no bridge but a regular
paved street. Oh, we know what we
are planning about. We have examined
the plans of about all the underground
railways, and have reduced the cost of
construction to a minimum. The man
ayers of the London underground rail
way have been Particularly con
dating, having answered all our Inquiries
and given us all the Information posi-
ble.n
"How long will it take you to complete
it after you get started2'' asked the re-
porter.
aoh, i don't know; from wv to three
years, I should Think
And In regard to the people inter-
ested.n
II can't give you their names just at
present, but they are good men, more
over, they don't want to tax any adj
vantage Of the public. They expect aud
desire that this matter should be fully
discussed by the press and public before
they take any action on it, and then If
the verdict is u~nfayorable they are pre-
pared to drop 1T for the present. There
will be no rush about It,. They want q
full and fair discussion of it, and all they
ask is that no one make up his mind in
the matter until he has fully looked into
the scheme. When the ordinance is pre-
sented to the council it will be put for
ward on its merits simply. In regard to
the company itself it would be foolish to
say that we had all the money in hand
necessary to carry the scheme through,
but we have enough to ges it well under
way and show the public what it is, and
then If its W merits won't carry ii
through we will be willing to drop it.
You see, we are confident that the scheme
itself will be its own salvation and are
willing to stand or fall with 1t. That's
saying a good deal, isn't it2'